Need a Break From Your Day-to-Day Hustle & the Scorching Summer Heat? Then You Need to Visit the Best Tourist Places in India for Summers (2020)

India is a vast country with different relief features like oceans, hills, mountains, plains, and plateaus. Summer in India is unbearably hot, especially in certain states, until the arrival of the monsoon. It has been a tradition in India initiated by the Mughals and followed by the British till the present day to have a summer capital along with a winter capital. The Mughal rulers shifted their summer capital of the Empire to Kabul during the late 16th to early 18th century from their winter capitals located at different places within North India. The British Raj shifted their summer capital to Shimla to escape the intolerable heat of Kolkata and Delhi while the British missionaries did so to Kodaikanal during mid 19th century. Presently, Jammu and Kashmir has a summer capital at Srinagar while winter capital at Jammu, as Srinagar gets covered by snow during the winters, and the administrative activities are directly affected.

People remain confined in their homes during summer in a majority of the states, to escape the torturing heat. The educational institutions declare holidays, and this is a time for you to plan a retreat with family and friends to some cool places. The first thing that comes to your mind is the hill stations located at different locations within India. There are quite a handful of hill stations within the country. The hill stations in India always see a flow of Indian tourists from April to June.

Hill stations are a storehouse of natural beauty and pollution-free environment. The moment you step on a place perched on a high mountain top, you are captivated by the overwhelming mountains surrounding you, huts of a village clustered together, tall trees, and sometimes a lively flowing river alongside the mountain. The Himalayan terrain is the home to a variety of beautiful hill stations, each exhibiting their own charm. The hill stations in the Eastern and Western Ghats are comparatively situated at a lower altitude possessing the beauty of a different realm. If you are adventure enthusiasts, there are many hill stations you can choose to indulge in your passion.

Pelling is a small town situated in Western Sikkim at an altitude of 2,100 metres. It can be reached from Gangtok by car within 6 hours through a fantastic journey through hills through the greenery and fresh air. The main attraction of Pelling is the striking view of the Kanchenjunga peak – the highest peak in India and the third highest in the world. The peak remains snow clad throughout the year and presents an amazing view from all around Pelling. Make sure to book a room facing the mountain. The sunrise and sunset over the peak are mind-blowing and can be treasured as a lifelong memory.

Apart from soaking in the natural beauty of Pelling, there are few monasteries like the Sanga Choling monastery, the second oldest monastery in Sikkim perched atop a ridge. However, you have to trek around 4 km, which is worth doing, based on the astounding view from this location. The Pemayangtse monastery is another oldest Gompa, which was built for ‘pure monks’, meaning monks devoid of any disabilities. The backdrop from this site is captivating with two snow-capped peaks on both sides. It is a wooden structure with beautiful architecture and houses a massive statue of Lord Buddha and equally famous for the Cham or masked dance.

You can trek 2 km from this monastery through a forest flocked with a variety of birds to the well maintained archeological site, Rabdentse Ruins. This ruins was once the capital of Sikkim and are an assembly of the stone throne (Namphogang), temple, and the gates of the palace. You can also view the vibrant river flowing along the foothills from this point. You can visit quite a few vivacious waterfalls such as Rimbi falls and Kanchenjunga falls along with Khecheopalri lake and River Orange garden while in Pelling. The Darap village is another attraction for staying overnight for a quiet and peaceful vacation from the hustle-bustle of modern life.

Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh has recently become one of the top tourist attractions due to its virgin and unexploited natural beauty. You will be spellbound by the magnificent beauty in the store of Tawang, situated at the height of 10,000 ft. You can hire a taxi from Guwahati for Tawang, but have to halt midway. Generally, tourists take a break journey at Bomdila, but we suggest you stay overnight in the picturesque Dirang valley.

While continuing your journey towards Tawang the following day, you can visit the beautiful monastery at Dirang and take another break at Sela Pass, the highest pass in the world, which can be accessed by road. The Paradise Lake at Sela, with its sparkling blue water, will make you calm and unwind. Next in line along the journey is Jaswant Garh, which was built in the memory of Indian rifleman Jaswant Singh Rawat, who surrendered his life battling against the Chinese. It is believed that the place is haunted by his spirit, which still protects the area.

You will be enthralled by the bounty of Tawang once you reach here. Visit the Tawang monastery, the largest monastery in India. Other places to visit are the Madhuri Lake, Bumla Pass on Indo China border, and waterfalls like Nuranang and Baap Teng Kang. The spectacular view created by the hand of God throughout, from entering Arunachal Pradesh to Tawang, is indescribable and will remain as a pleasant memory even later.

You can hire a taxi or take a bus to Coorg or Kodagu, a small hill station in Karnataka from either Mysore or Mangalore or even Bengaluru. A stroll through the town acclimatizes you to the land of cardamom, coffee, and the Cauvery river. While enjoying the pleasant weather in Coorg, you can visit the Madikeri fort adding glamour to the town. You can have a glimpse of the town from the fort which is undoubtedly breathtaking. Visit the Abbey waterfalls between the coffee and spice plantations and Irruku falls, which is around 2 hours from Coorg.

Enjoy a tour around the coffee plantations, and if you prefer hiking, you can indulge in it along the mountainous terrain. The Tibetan monastery is a place not to ignore, and you will be overwhelmed by its golden prayer hall and numerous golden statues. The Raja’s seat should be visited in the Madikeri town, which offers a panorama of valleys stretching to Kerala and the splendid sunset. If you are an animal lover, you can visit the Dubare elephant camp to enjoy the activities of elephants from a very close quarter.

Ladakh is known as the cold desert and is a favourite summer retreat in India. Ladakh is a stunning location of pristine beauty with snow-covered mountains, beautiful lakes along with monasteries and gompas. You can visit the Royal Leh palace, which is the construction of stone, sand, and mud. The Nubra and Zanskar valley can be enjoyed for a Bactrian camel ride, apricot orchards, and river rafting.

The Diskit and Hemis monastery in Leh gives a flair of the Tibetan culture. The most enchanting location is the Pangong lake, the largest saltwater lake in Asia with birds like cranes, seagulls, and ducks. A visit to the Hemis national park will provide you the opportunity to watch different birds and a snow leopard if luck permits. Ladakh is must visit place for people with a taste of adventure sports like mountaineering, trekking, biking, and rafting.

Auli in Uttarakhand is situated at an altitude of 9200 ft and can be accessed by road from Dehradun within 7 hours. It is a place full of golden oaks and pines which enhance the natural beauty, beguiling you completely. If you are a ski enthusiast, Auli is your perfect destination in summer, where you can indulge in it completely. Apart from skiing, you can trek to different places like the highest artificial lake in the world, along with Gurso Bugyal and Kwami Bugyal. You can also avail of a ride in the cable car across the mountainous terrain. A visit to Joshimath and Chattrakund lake, with their scenic beauty, is a must where the lakes add galore to the mesmerising backdrop.

Kodaikanal in Tamil Nadu is designated as the Princess of Hills as it is an assortment of sparkling rivers, gushing waterfalls, hills, lush greenery, and thick forests. You can reach Kodaikanal directly by train or can hire a taxi from Madurai. Situated at an altitude of 7000 ft, it allures you visit places like Kodai lake and Berijam Lake, where you can enjoy a boat ride against the enticing backdrop.

The well maintained Byrant Park, Chettiar park along with viewpoints like Moir Point, Silent Valley View, and Lake View Point are to be visited for viewing the stunning landscapes. Enjoy the gushing Fairy and Vattakanal waterfalls, while you are here. If you are religiously inclined, you can visit different churches and Subrahmanya temple. If you adore trekking, you can trek to Dolphin rock, Pillar rock, and Kumbakarai.

Shillong in Meghalaya is known as the Scotland of the East, because of its lustrous green panorama of pine-covered trees. You can reach Shillong within 3 hours from Guwahati by road. Enjoy the enormous and picturesque Umiam Lake on your way. The Shillong viewpoint provides an astounding view of the vast expanse of the city and hills with pine trees. You can stroll in the Wards lake, feed the fish, and also have a boat ride in the evening.

The vibrant Elephant Falls and the Spread eagle falls resembling the eagle is worth visiting. The Polo ground is a well maintained, beautiful landscape where you can relax in the evening. The incredible part of Meghalaya is to drive to the outskirts of Shillong, which is both mesmerising and relaxing amidst the tranquil green mountains. You can go for a day trip to Cherrapunjee, the wettest place on earth, and enjoy the drizzle. Visit the Mawsmai cave- a natural limestone cave, the ecological park from which you can view Bangladesh, and the tallest waterfall in India: NohKaLikai falls.

Another day trip can be taken to Dawki on the Bangladesh border, to view the clear lake and indulge in a boat ride. You can even visit the cleanest village in Asia-Mawlinglong and the natural root bridge while returning from Dawki. Food is another delicacy in Shillong with a multitude of restaurants offering a variety of cuisines. Dost miss the popular Khasi betel nuts, a local mouth freshener. Shop for exquisite bags and shoes at Police bazaar, and return with all the fond memories of your trip.

Mukteshwar is a small town in Uttarakhand which can be reached from Pantnagar within 2 hours. Perched on the Himalayan range at an altitude of 7,500 ft, its cool breeze will soothe your mind instantly. Visit the Mukteshwar Shiva temple and later trek to Kapileshwar temple from here through a scenic trail.

The lively Bhalu Gaad waterfall is another site where you can take part in cliff jumping. The best spot here is the area of cliffs called Chauli ki Jali, where you will be captivated by the spectacular view of the valleys and can also perform rock climbing. You can stroll in the morning to Sai mandir for glimpsing the sunrise. You can take a pleasant stroll through the forest to the Colonial bungalow amidst chirping birds.

Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim, may be reached by taxi from Bagdogra or New Jalpaiguri in 4.5 hours. The journey up the hills along the Teesta river is mind-blowing with an enchanting panorama. If you are into adventure sports, then you can go for paragliding, rafting in Teesta, cycling, and trekking through forest trail of oak, elm, and birch trees in Gangtok. You can visit the Do Drul Chorten Stupa, the golden top of which can be witnessed from almost every part of Gangtok.

Some of the monasteries you can visit are Tsuk La Khang, Rumtek, and Enchey Gompa. Enjoy the Tsongmo lake and ride a yak near the lake while going to the Nathu La Pass at the Indo-China border. Make sure to get the permit from Gangtok before proceeding for the pass. You will be awestruck by the soaring white mountain peaks in the backdrop at this place. You can also visit the Baba Harbhajen Singh mandir dedicated to the soldier whose spirit is still believed to be alive. The Tashi viewpoint in Gangtok is another beautiful spot from where you can enjoy the sunset over the Kanchenjunga peak.

Visit the Hanuman Tok, which houses a Hanuman temple, where it is believed that Hanuman rested while fetching ‘sanjeevani booti’ (a herb) for Ram. Your kids will adore the zoo housing rare animals such as red panda and snow leopards. Gorge on thupkas and Tibetan delicacies in various restaurants at MG Road and go on a shopping spree at both MG Road and Lal Bazaar. You can even take a day-long trip to Ravangla, South Sikkim, to enjoy the splendid drive through the curves on the mountains and visit the enormous statue of golden Buddha at Buddha park against a stunning background of lush green mountains. Wind up your visit by hopping into the beautiful Samdruptse Monastery in Namchi. Gangtok will provide you with colourful memories to carry home!

If you are looking for a recluse in a calm and serene place, Pachmarhi is your choice. It is the only hill station in Madhya Pradesh in the Satpura range at the height of 1,067 metres, also called Satpura ki rani. You can reach here from Bhopal within 4 hours by road. The area is encompassed by thick and dense forests, cascading hills, and serene lakes. The view of the sunset is spellbinding as the reflecting sun rays blankets the mountain ranges in purple and violet shades.

Captain Forsyth discovered this hill station from a point which has been named as Forsyth point, from where you can have a magnificent view of the mountains. The green water of Irene pool and Fairy pool attracts tourists, while another sightseeing attraction is the Jamuna Prapat, a beautiful waterfall. Jatashanker is a sacred cave where the rocks are a resemblance of Shiva’s matted locks and is a religious haunt. If you have archeological tastes, the caves' shelters is a must-visit to eulogise the cave paintings. Visit the highest point in Satpura range, Dhupgarh, for viewing the exotic panorama of sunset. You may also go to the churches and Mahadeo temple.